Match Preview
Coventry City vrs Fulham
Championship Match Day 11 at The Ricoh Arena
Saturday 2nd October 2021 KO: 12:30
Referee:
Gavin Ward (Surrey)
Live on Sky
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For the first time since April 1968, Fulham and Coventry City will meet in a league game when they do battle in the Championship at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday lunchtime.
After a minor blip in form – winning only one of their last five games across all competitions in September – Fulham finished the month with a comfortable 3-1 victory at home against Swansea City on Wednesday night.
Marco Silva's side had to rely on the brilliance of Aleksandar Mitrovic once again as his first-half hat-trick helped fire the Cottagers to all three points, moving them back into the top three and just two points behind West Bromwich Albion at the summit.
Nearly 50% of Fulham's goals this campaign have been scored by Mitrovic, who is currently the Championship's top goalscorer with 10 strikes, averaging a goal every 88 minutes which is the best of any marksman in England's top four divisions.
At the other end, the Whites have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last five league games, which will be a slight concern for Silva heading into Saturday's fixture with Coventry, who have scored nine of their 12 goals this season at home.
Nevertheless, Fulham will be the favourites to come out on top this weekend as they seek to become the first team to take points away from the Ricoh Arena this campaign.
The Sky Blues, who conceded five goals in midweek against Luton Town, currently sit one place and one point behind the Cottagers in forth, who returned to winning ways against Swansea City last time out.
Coventry's bright start to the new campaign was dealt a major blow when they were thrashed 5-0 away against Luton Town on Wednesday night, their heaviest defeat under manager Mark Robins.
Two goals each from Elijah Adebayo and Harry Cornick as well as a strike from Luke Berry condemned the Sky Blues to their third league defeat this season. All three losses have been away from home, so Robins and co will be pleased that this weekend's clash with Fulham is back on home soil.
Coventry have enjoyed a perfect start at the Ricoh Arena so far this campaign, claiming a maximum 15 points from their five league matches, more than any other Championship side.
The Sky Blues, who currently sit in fifth place, have accumulated eight more points than at this stage last season and are crucially the same number of points clear of the relegation zone.
Bouncing back with a victory on Saturday against one of this year's promotion favourites Fulham may be a tall order for Coventry, but should certainly not be ruled out, especially as the Cottagers have failed to win two of their last three games away from home.
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This is the first league meeting between Coventry City and Fulham since April 1968 in the top-flight, a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
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In all competitions, Fulham and Coventry last met in 1982-83 in the League Cup second round, with the Sky Blues going through on away goals over two legs.
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Fulham haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 away league games (W3 D3 L4), conceding exactly once in all five of their games on the road so far this term.
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Coventry are looking to win their first six home league games in a single season for the first time since 1950-51, when they won each of their first eight in the second tier.
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Viktor Gyökeres has scored five goals in five home games for Coventry in the Championship this season, with only Blackburn’s Ben Brereton Díaz scoring more home goals (6) so far.